Severable ribbon spool



May 28, 1968 1 P. FREcHr-:TTE 3,385,416

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United States Patent Olce 3,385,416 SEVERABLE RIBBON SPOOL Leo P. Frechette, West Hartford, Conn., assigner to Litton Business Systems, Inc., a corporation of Delaware Filed Mar. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 532,917 6 Claims. (Cl. 197-175) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A severable carbon ribbon take-up vspool having a disposable hub for accumulating ribbon between a pair of side plates, the disposable hub and side plates being detachably coupled together by releasably locking lingers adapted to be released by manual means mounted on one of said side plates so that said disposable hub and ribbon wound thereon may be easily disposed of.

This invention relates to a carbon ribbon spool and more particularly to a take-up spool for facilitating easy ejection and disposal of used ribbon therefrom.

During recent years, the carbon ribbon has come into widespread use as an ink supply means for typewriters because of the excellence and clarity of the copy produced thereby. Such use, however, has various attendant inconveniences primarily caused by the necessary handling of the ribbon by the typist vin removing used ribbon from the take-up spool and disposing of it and installing fresh ribbon. Furthermore, in order for the take-up spool to accommodate all, or at least suiiicient a-rnounts of the ribbon and thereby minimize the number of disposals of used ribbon from the take-up spool, the run of the carbon ribbon between the ribbon index mechanism and take-up spool must be maintained under tension t-o wind the ribbon as tight as possible on the take-up spool. Heretofore, tightly wound ribbons have been difficult to remove from the take-up spool 4giving rise to much inconvenience and lost time.

In accordance with the invention a severable carbon ribbon take-up spool is adapted to be rotated, whenever the ribbon is indexed and is comprised of an inner spool flange, which is rotatably mounted an axially restrained on a frame -mounted spindle. The severable take-up spool is further comprised of an outer spool flange which includes a plurality of locking members releasably secured to a disposable hub for accumulating used carbon ribbon and releasably secured to the inner spool flange. A disengaging plunger, mounted for axial rnotion on the outer spool flange, is adapted to release and separate the disposable hub and used ribbon from the locking members, after the inner spool lian-ge has |been release-d and separated from its locking members, whereby a new hub may be releasably secured to the outer spool flange and the take-up spool reassembled to wind another ribbon thereon.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is in the provision of a carbon ribbon take-up spool 'which facilitates the release of tightly wound used ribbon therefrom.

Another object of the invention is to provide a carbon ribbon take-up spool which is easily disassembled for rernoval of used carbon ribbon and easily assembled to permit attachment of a ribbon thereto.

A further object of the invention is in the provision of a severable carbon ribbon take-up spool with a disposable hub which may easily be separated from the spool flanges.

Other objects and many of the yattendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated las the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing in which like reference nu- 3,385,416 Patented May 28, 1968 merals design-ate like parts throughout the gures thereof and wherein:

FIGURE l is a front elevation showing carbon ribbon supply and take-up spool operatively mounted to portions of the frame of a typewriter;

FIGURE 2 is an outside left elevation of the carbon ribbon take-up spool and the ribbon index wheels which permit ribbon to be drawn from a supply spool by a ribbon take-up and slip drive;

FIGURE 3 is -a rear elevation of the slip drive;

FIGURE 4 is la sectional IView taken along line 4--4 of FIGURE 2 showing 4the take-up spool assembly;

FIGURE 5 is a frag-mentary rear elevat-ion of the inner spool flange;

FIGURE 5A is a fragmentary sectional view showing the inner flange and bevelled apertures;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 6-6 of FIGURE 2 showing the outer spool ange and the disengaging plunger;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary section-al view taken along line 7--7 of FIGURE 2 showing the disposable hub engaged by the locking means to the outer spool ange;

FIGURE 8 is a front view of the disposable hub; and

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of an alternate locking rneans.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference numerals designate like or corresponding elements throughout the several views and wherein a preferred embodiment is illustrated, there is shown in FIGURE 1 a typewriter frame 10 which rotatably supports on the right side of the machine a carbon ribbon supply spool 11 associate-d with conventional dra-g means (not shown) which prevents too rapid turning of the spool. A ribbon 12 from the supply spool is directed around a right yguide roller 13, through a ribbon vibrator structure generally vdesignated by reference 14 and Iaround a left guide roller 15. As viewed in FIGURES 1 and 2, the ribbon passing around the left gui-de roller passes between ribbon indexing rollers 16 and 17 which normally grip the ribbon and permit a predetermined -amount of ribbon to be drawn from the supply spool 11 subsequent to each type action. More particularly, the roller 16 is supported for rotation by a shaft 18, which is indexable by conventional mechanism upon each type action, and roller 17 is supported for rotation on a bracket (not shown) which |is spring biased toward roller 16. Thus, when roller 16 is indexed, the ribbon is drawn between the rollers and wound on a take-up spool `generally designated by reference numeral 21. Since the take-up spool is positively driven by a continuously driven -gear 26 4meshing with take-up spool gear 25, a slip drive 24 (FIGURE 3) is provided, which permits slipping of the take-up spool with respect to the take-up spool gear, after indexing is completed, as well as maintaining the length 22 of ribbon taut between the index rollers and the take-up spool.

One type of slip drive which may be used is a torroid'al spring and pulley arrangement, shown in FIGURE 2 of the copending patent application Serial No. 461,653, tiled June 7, 1965 by Carl A. Geissler now Patent No. 3,317,155 issued May 2, 1967. Alternatively, a hollow hub 25d of the take-up spool -gear 25 may have three arcuate lingers 25a, 25b and 25e (FIGURE 3), located in one and the s'ame radial plane within hub 25d, and integrally supported therefrom at discrete angular positions by hands 25e, 25j and 25g respectively. The unsupported end portions of each of the finger-s are formed such that they will engage and expand outwardly, toward the hub 25d, when a hub 27a of an inner take-up spool flange 27 is inserted into the take-up spool gear hub 25d, whereby the take-up spool is frictionally coupled to the take-up spool gear, and drives the spool when the roller 16 is indexed, Accordingly, the take-up spool will slip with respect to the rotating take-up spool gear when the ribbon is being gripped by the index rollers, but since the ribbon is being urged in the wind direction, the length 22 0f ribbon between the indexing roller and the take-up spool will be maintained in a relatively taut condition. Although the heretofore described ribbon feeding means included a continuously driven shaft for driving the takeup spool and an indexing shaft operable upon each type action, it is axiomati-c that the take-up spool gear may be :arranged to drive a gear train which thereby drives the indexing roller 16, 'and in this event, gear 26 would no longer be continuously driven but indexable upon each type action.

Referring now to FIGURES 4 through 8 which best show the structural details of the invention, the take-up spool 21 shown in FIGURE 4 is preferably made of plastic and comprised of the inner spool flange 27, an outer spool flange 28, and a disposable hub 29. The inner flange 27 includes a hollow hub 27a (FIGURE 5a) which contains a coaxial spindle support 27b integrally formed with a front face 30a of inner flange 27. Four rectangularly shaped apertures generally designated with reference numeral 31, lare located 90 apart to symmetrically surround spindle support 27b (FIGURE 5), and contain bevelled edges 31b on a vrear face 3017 such that the apertures will be easily engaged by detents 41 and 42 as will be described below. As shown in FIGURE 4 the inner flange 27, which is rotatably mounted on a spindle 20 fixed in a frame 19, is laxially restrained on said spindle by snap ring 23. Thus, when an axial force is applied to outer flange 28 in a direction away from frame 19, in order to disassemble the take-up spool, inner flange 27 is restrained from moving by the snap ring 23 thereby separating the inner flange from the disposable hub and outer flange.

Outer spool flange 28 is comprised of a pair of rearwardly projecting wing shaped members 28a and 28b on rear face 28f (FIGURES 2, 6 and 7), which are intended to be grasped by a typist, when she applies an axial force on said outer flange, for assembly and disassembly of the take-up spool, as will be hereinafter more fully described. As viewed best in FIGURE 4, outer flange 28 is also comprised of a disengaging plunger 32, a pair of locking fingers 33 and 34 for releasably securing the inner flange 27, a pair of locking fingers 35 and 36 (FIG- URE 7) for releasably securing the disposable hub 29, and a spindle support 40. Spindle support (FIGURE 4) is integrally and coaxially formed to protrude forwardly from the front face 28e of outer flange 28. The rear face 28jc of flange 28 (FIGURE 6) contains the disengaging plunger 32 disposed symmetrically between wing members 28a and 28h and includes forwardly extending arms 37 and 38 which protrude through holes 28e and 28d respectively in flange 28 and terminate with a deteut 37a and 38a respectively. The detents limit the rearward axial motion of plunger 32, which is biased rearward by a coil spring 39 coaxially nestled between flange 28 and plunger 32.

Referring back to FIGURE 4, the locking fingers 33 and 34 are angularly displaced 180 apart, and protrude forwardly from the front face 28e, terminating with detents 41 and 42 respectively, which are each adapted to engage separate apertures 31 in inner flange 27. The detents 41 and 42 are preferably formed with bevelled edegs 41a and 42a respectively, to facilitate the initial installation into the inner flange apertures 31, and are also formed with deteut surfaces 41b and 42b respectively, sloping upwardly from their respective locking fingers, which are at the same radius, with respect to the spindle, as the lower portion of bevelled edges 31b of apertures 31. Thus, after angularly aligning the fingers 33 and 34 with a pair of apertures 31 which are 180 apart, an axial force directed toward the inner flange 27 and applied to wings 28a and 28b, causes the bevelled edges 41a and y42a to engage the respective bevelled apertures, and fingers 33 and 34 are flexed radially inwardly until the detent surfaces 41b and 42b have entered their respective apertures, whereupon the fingers flex outwardly to their normal position, thereby locking the inner spool flange to the outer spool flange (FIGURE 4).

As shown in FIGURE 7, the locking fingers 35 and 36 are angularly displaced 180 from each other and protrude forwardly from the front face 28e approximately half the distance protruded by fingers 33 and 34. Locking fingers 35 and 36 terminate with respective detents 43 and 44, which are adapted to engage locking surfaces 45 in disposable hub 29. The detents 43 and 44 are similar to detents 41 and 42, in that they have respective bevelled surfaces 43a and 44a and their respective detent surfaces 43b and 44b slope upwardly from their respective fingers which are the same radius, with respect to the spindle, as the radius of a central opening 48 in hub 29 (FIGURE 8). Thus, locking fingers 35 and 36 function in exactly the same fashion as locking fingers 33 and 34, although due to the differences in the protruding length-s, fingers 35 and 36 do not flex as much, and therefore, a larger `axial `force is required in the assembly and disassembly of hub 29 to outer flange 28 than the force required to assemble or disassemble the inner flange 27 to the outer flange 28. This larger force requirement in the disassembly process is obviated if the disengaging plunger 32 is used, rather than disa-ssembling by grasping the hub or ribbon .and applying a force in an axial direction away from the outer flange.

Disposable hub 29, as shown in FIGURE 8, is cylindrically shaped, with external slots 46 formed in end faces 29a and 29h for accommodating the protruding arms 37 and 38 of plunger 32, and thus permit the hub end face to be assembled flush with the forward outer flange face 28e. Internal slots 47, which extend along the complete length of the hub, provide an unobstructed passageway for locking fingers 33 and 34 thereby to enable fingers 33 and 34 to support hub 29 such that slots 46 are aligned with arms 37 and 38. The central opening 48 has a straight portion 49 and bevelled surfaces 45, which are adapted to be engaged by a mating bevelled surface `43a and 44a on locking fingers 35 and 36 respectively (FIGURE 7). Since `hub 29 is completely symmetrical, either end face 29a or end face 2911 may be assembled .against outer spool front face 28e and the hub may also -be rotated and aligned with locking fingers 33 and 34 in 90 angular increments.

Thus, in operation, when the take-up spool 21 is fully loaded with used ribbon and an axial force in a direction away from frame 19 (FIGURE 4) applied on wings 28a and 281:, detents 41 and 42 are disengaged from face 30a and the outer spool flange and disposable hub separated from the inner spool flange. The outer flange and hub loaded with used ribbon may then be placed over a waste basket, and the plunger 32 actuated thereby ejecting the loaded hub from the outer flange. A new hub may -be assembled to t-he outer spool support by first aligning the hub `such that fingers 33 and 34 of flange 28 are in the same angular position las internal slots 47. The hub is then slipped `onto fingers 33 and 34 of flange 28 and an axial force applied on the hub until the hub end face is engaged with face 28e whereby the detent surfaces 43b and 44h of locking fingers 35 and 36 respectively, are engaged with hub locking surfaces 45 (FIGURE 7). The outer flange and disposable hub are then joined to the inner flange by placing the locking fingers 33 and 34 of flange 28 into separate apertures 31 and exerting an axial force on wings 28a and 28b in a direction toward the frame 19, such that the hub 29 is flush with face 30b of flange 27 and detents 41 and 42 are locked to face 30a. A leading end of a new carbon ribbon may then be threaded from the supply spool through the vibrator and between the index rollers onto the disposable hub 29, where it may be secured by any suitable means.

An alternate locking means 50 is shown in FIGURE 9,

wherein one of Ia pair of releasable locking Idetents 51 and 52, for coupling to the -disposable hub, and :one of a p-air of releasable locking detent's 53 and 54 for coupling to the inner spool flange 27, are formed on one of a pair of fingers 55 and 56 respectively. Inasmuch as one hub locking detent and one flange locking detent are on the same finger, a new disposable hub 57 is provided, which has a locking surface 61 for detents 51 and 52 to `replace the locking surfaces 45 of hub 29. In addition, the hub S7 is radial-1y aligned and supported by a shoulder 58 on the front face 59a of outer spool flange 59. Needless to say, the design of the length of the locking fingers 55 and 56 and the Iheight of the detents 51 through 54 is such that even though the fingers are moved radially inward during the locking of flange 27 with detents 53 Iand 54, this motion is insufficient to unlock detents 51 and 52 from hub locking `surface 61. Since these elements function in the same fashi-on as the aforedescribed similar elements, the operation of this alternate locking means need not be repeated.

It should be understood that the foregoing disclosure relates to only a preferred embodiment of the invention and that it is intended to cover `all changes .and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for the purposes of the disclosure, whiohdo not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention claimed is:

1. A severable carbon ribbon take-up spool for winding a used ribbon, comprising,

a first spool flange adapted to be driven and thereby to rotate said spool,

a circular disposable hub for accumulating said used ribbon,

and a second spool flange having a first releasable locking means for coupling to said first spool flange and -a se-cond releasable locking means for coupling to said disposable hub whereby said dispos-able hub and ribbon may be easily separated from said first and second spool flanges, said first releasable locking means Iand said second releasable locking means together including Ia pair of ngers axially protruding from said second spool flange, each of said fingers having two detents axially displaced from one another whereby the detents axially displaced the furtherest from said second spool flange are adapted to releasably lock to said first spool flange and the remaining detents are adapted to releasably lock to said disposable hub.

2. A severable carbon ribbon takeaup spool for winding :a used ribbon, comprising,

a first spool flange adapted to be driven and thereby to rotate said spool,

a circular disposable hub for accumulating said used ribbon,

and a second spool flange having a first releasable locking means for coupling to said first spool flange and a second releasable locking means f-or coupling to said disposable hub whe-reby said disposable hub and riobbn may be easily separated from said first and second spool flanges, said first releasable l-ocking means and said second lreleasable locking means each including one pair of fingers, each pair of fingers having a different length and being axially protruding land integral with said second spool flange, each of said fingers having a detent whereby the detents on said shortest pair of fingers releasably lock to said disposable hub and the detents on said longest pair of fingers releasably lock to said first spool flange.

3. A severable carbon ribbon take-up spool according to .claim 1 further including manual means fixed to said second spool flan-ge `and 4adapted to release said first spool flange from said lfirst releasable locking means and release said disposable hub from said second releasable locking means upon actuation of said manual means.

4. A severable carbon ribbon take-up spool according to claim 2 further including manual means fixed to said second spool flange and adapted to lrele-ase said first spool flange `from said first releasable locking means upon actuation of said manual means and release said disposable hub from said :second releasable locking means upon actuation of said manual means.

5. A severable carbon ribbon take-up spool according to claim 3, wherein said manual means includes a plunger adapted to move axially toward said second spool flange having two arms protruding through said second spool flange, and biasing means for maintaining said plunger axially displaced -away from said second spool flange whereby motion of said plunger tow-ard said second spool flange causes said -arms to engage and eject said disposable hub from said first releasable locking means.

6. A severable carbon ribbon take-up spool according to claim 4, wherein said manual means includes a plunger adapted to move axially toward said second spool flange having two arms protruding through said second spool flange, an-d biasing means for maintaining said plunger laxially displaced away from said second spool flange whereby motion of said -plunger toward said second spool lflange causes said arms to engage and eject said disposable hub from said first releasable locking means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 481,377 8/1892 Spiro 197-151 X 696,137 3/1902 Felbel et al. 197-175 X 851,988 4/1907 Howell 197--175 X 1,021,835 4/1912 Harry 197--175 2,667,257 1/1954 Hurtado 197-175 2,811,235 10/1957 Geissler 197-151 X 3,022,958 2/ 1962 yBieber 197-175 X 3,145,823 8/1964 Spradlin 197-175 OTHER REFERENCES I'BM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Disposal of Typewriter Ribbon, Caudill et al., vol. 8, No. 8, January 1966, pp, 11127, 1128.

ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner.

E. T. WRIGHT, Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 ,385 ,416 May 28 1968 Leo P. Prechette It s certified that error appears in the above identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

,YInf'the heading to the printed specification, line 5 "Delaware' should read New York Signed and sealed this 9th day of December 1969.

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR.

Commissioner of Patents Edward M. Fletcher, Jr.

Attesting Officer 

